Indian Income Service (IRS) officer and former NCB Mumbai Zonal Director Sameer Dnyandev Wankhede has filed a rejoinder earlier than the Delhi Excessive Courtroom, accusing Crimson Chillies Leisure Pvt. Ltd., the Shah Rukh Khan owned manufacturing home, of manufacturing and circulating “false, malicious and defamatory” content material by way of its Netflix internet sequence `The Ba***ds of Bollywood`.
Wankhede contended that the online sequence will not be a piece of fiction however a “private vendetta disguised as satire”, orchestrated to malign his status following the 2021 Cordelia Cruise drug case involving Shah Rukh Khan`s son, Aryan Khan.
Within the rejoinder, Wankhede alleged that the character of a authorities officer depicted within the sequence was intentionally modelled on him, citing placing resemblances in look, speech, and using his trademark phrase “Satyamev Jayate.” He mentioned the scene amounted to a “premeditated, focused marketing campaign” meant to ridicule and destroy his status.
“The sequence will not be satire however a calculated hit job designed to settle private scores,” the rejoinder acknowledged, including that the content material mocked not solely the officer but in addition the nationwide motto `Satyamev Jayate`.
Wankhede asserted that the content material has prompted him public humiliation, resulting in a “wave of on-line ridicule” towards him and his household. “My spouse and sister are being subjected to offensive and distasteful messages,” he mentioned, terming the injury to his status irreparable.
The rejoinder additional accused the corporate of revenge and business greed, asserting that “the defendants can not cover behind the handy veil of satire or creative expression to justify a malicious act.”
Wankhede argued that his proper to status, protected beneath Article 21 of the Structure, has been violated and urged the court docket to restrain the streaming and promotion of the allegedly defamatory scenes till the defamation swimsuit is set.
In its reply affidavit, Crimson Chillies Leisure Pvt Ltd had opposed Wankhede`s injunction plea, describing the defamation swimsuit as “wholly misconceived, untenable in legislation, and devoid of advantage.”
The reply states that `The Ba***ds of Bollywood` is a situational satire that doesn’t identify or depict Wankhede and accommodates no defamatory materials.
On the threshold, the corporate challenged the maintainability of the swimsuit, contending that the Delhi Excessive Courtroom lacks territorial jurisdiction, since each Wankhede and the principal defendants, together with Netflix, are based mostly in Mumbai. It mentioned the jurisdictional defect at inception renders the proceedings a nullity, which can’t be cured by way of later amendments to the plaint.
The manufacturing home additionally questioned Wankhede`s declare of an unblemished service document, referring to the CBI FIR registered in Could 2023 for alleged extortion and corruption.
“The existence of the FIR and the need for interim safety undermine the plaintiff`s declare of an unblemished status,” the corporate submitted, additional asserting that Wankhede was already the topic of “public ridicule and opposed commentary” even earlier than the sequence was launched.
Crimson Chillies maintained that the sequence is a inventive and humorous commentary on the movie trade, tackling themes like nepotism, paparazzi tradition, and movie star controversies, utilizing humour and parody protected beneath Article 19(1)(a) of the Structure. It acknowledged that the temporary sequence objected to by Wankhede, lasting only one minute and forty-eight seconds, “merely portrays an overzealous officer” and carries no defamatory reference.
“Satire permits the satirist to criticise within the harshest of phrases. Whether or not the remark is satirical or malicious can solely be decided at trial,” the reply acknowledged.
Arguing that Wankhede, as a public servant, should tolerate public scrutiny, Crimson Chillies acknowledged, “Those that fill public positions should not be too thin-skinned. An individual whose conduct has been the topic of official inquiry can not declare particular safety from honest remark or satire.”
Calling Wankhede`s plea an try to stifle reputable creative expression, the manufacturing home mentioned that eradicating the impugned scene would distort the narrative move of the sequence, which has been streaming on Netflix since September 18, 2025.
On Thursday, the Delhi Excessive Courtroom directed all events to file written submissions and listed the matter for additional listening to on November 10 earlier than Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav.
On the earlier date, the court docket had issued discover to Netflix, Crimson Chillies, and others on Wankhede`s plea searching for a everlasting injunction and Rs 2 crore in damages for alleged defamation.
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